Should Johnny Manziel go to the NFL? Decision looms for Heisman winner

Posted by Kevin McGuire on November 22, 2013, 7:13 PM EDT

AP

By the time Texas A&M plays their bowl game this upcoming postseason the world will know what the future holds for Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel. The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner and one of the favorites for the 2013 award is executed to make his decision before Texas A&M’s bowl game, according to reports Friday.

During a radio interview on Friday, Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin said he has not had the NFL future discussion with Manziel but does expect to know what will be happening in the offseason before the Aggies play their bowl game.

“We haven’t had that conversation,” Sumlin said. “My job is to get him all the facts that we can get him. We’ll have that discussion after the Missouri game, certainly during the bowl preparation. I’m sure the announcement will be made at that time.”

The Missouri game is the final game of the regular season on Texas A&M’s schedule.

Everybody will have an opinion on what Manziel should do. If Manziel does become just the second player to win the Heisman Trophy a second time, there will be little reason to prove and return in 2014. And Manziel may very well make history as a two-time Heisman Trophy winner. His passing numbers are improved in just about eery statistical category that matters. Manziel has thrown a few more interceptions this season than last year but his passing accuracy, touchdown total and yards per attempt are all up and his passing yardage should jump up this season despite less playing time this season for one reason or another. Still, at times Manziel does things that just do not feel as though they would blend well in the NFL.

What are those concerns? Heaving passes up and hoping Mike Evans can come down with it is one. In the NFL, Manziel will lose the benefit of the doubt of having the best player in the open field every play being able to come down with passes that will be up for grabs in the NFL. Holding the football away from his body is another. When Manziel makes the decision to run, he can be quite effective in weaving in and out of trouble, but he tends to hold the football out away from his body. In the college game he can get away with that but in the NFL he will be a bit more neutralized when it comes to speed and NFL players will have a better chance of knocking a football loose unless he keeps it closer to his body.

These are just mild concerns perhaps, and they are most certainly correctable. We do not know yet whether Manziel has the ability to break that mold or if he is even aware of some potential shortcomings he may have in the NFL. Another factor in to Manziel’s decision-making could be whether or not Sumlin is back as head coach. It is likely Sumlin is the head coach at Texas A&M next season, but what if he decides to leave for USC (or Texas)?

Should Manziel leave Texas A&M and enter the NFL Draft? He would likely be a first or second round draft pick, and his stock may not get much higher than that if he returned in 2014 for one more year. There had also been plenty of good examples to learn from about quarterbacks making the decision to come back for one more year of college before leaving for the NFL that did not quite go as planned (Matt Barkley, Jake Locker).

He should definitely go to the NFL. He’s never going to win a championship with the aggies and he already has a heisman. He’s probably barely attending classes and would take a sec to remember his major. He should cash out in the nfl, he’ll probably go in the first couple rounds and we will see how he adapts. Honestly, I think he’s going to fail but maybe he will surprise me.

dkhhuey says:Nov 22, 2013 8:00 PM

Yes PLEASE GO!!! That way I don’t have to hear your name every 20 seconds!!! You can Tebow out and go away much quicker!

Absolutely not! Look, if he wins the Heisman this year, he’ll have a chance for a Three-peat. How many people can say they 3-peated something? Aside from the Lakers, I can’t think of any other 3 peaters out there. Anyone? Anyone?

And the education is FREE! We know all athletes spend a considerable amount of time studying taking advantage of the education that is provided. If he goes pro he’ll have to pay for the rest of his degree, and a football player of his caliber will be mired for hours in debt upon graduation if he goes that route. That would just be a complete shame to see his career weighed down by that for the first 10 minutes.

Finally, it’s not about us. It’s about your Mom, Johnny. Stay in school. It’s what your mother always said to do. Listen to her. You only get a free education once. And you only get to go for the Heisman…3 times. But you can always wait to go pro.

thefiesty1 says:Nov 22, 2013 8:13 PM

Good as gone. America can’t put up with another off season like last year.

rolltide510 says:Nov 22, 2013 8:15 PM

“apkyletexas says:
Nov 22, 2013 8:03 PM
If I were Manzel, I would stay for one more year and say – “Throw the full Drew Brees/Sean Payton offense at me”.

Limit my run options, and force me to stay in the pocket most of the time and to read numerous routes on every pass play, and to make every pass from every angle under pressure.”

Is that how you figure college football works? That players go to their coaches and tell them the offense they’d like to run that would give them the best NFL resume, not what gives the team the best odds of winning?

rolltide510 says:Nov 22, 2013 8:17 PM

“jdillydawg says:
Nov 22, 2013 8:04 PM
Absolutely not! Look, if he wins the Heisman this year, he’ll have a chance for a Three-peat. How many people can say they 3-peated something? Aside from the Lakers, I can’t think of any other 3 peaters out there. Anyone? Anyone?

And the education is FREE! We know all athletes spend a considerable amount of time studying taking advantage of the education that is provided. If he goes pro he’ll have to pay for the rest of his degree, and a football player of his caliber will be mired for hours in debt upon graduation if he goes that route. That would just be a complete shame to see his career weighed down by that for the first 10 minutes.

Finally, it’s not about us. It’s about your Mom, Johnny. Stay in school. It’s what your mother always said to do. Listen to her. You only get a free education once. And you only get to go for the Heisman…3 times. But you can always wait to go pro.”

Not because I’m an LSU fan but takin into consideration of what I’ve seen and read of his behavior not no but hell no. He may have the skills but with his attitude he’d be a snack for some defenses. He needs to grow up more age wise and mature more on the field like wise. In stayin he’s got a chance at changin but he’s got to want to own up to his faults and realize that his parents’ $$ won’t always be there to bail him out of trouble. Just sayin.

Manziel is the best dual threat QB since Archie Manning.(I know, RGIII is suppose to be the best, but Griffin is more of a spread option QB ala VY, in Briles system.)

In the two years I have watched Manziel play both in person and on TV, the kid has matured into a very competent passer AND is a student of his craft. From what NFL scouts have told me, he looks to go mid to late 1st round with Mariota and Bridgewater ahead of him.

The off the field antics are a thing of the past and given the focus now on the scandal de jour
with Winston, Johnny is a choir boy. I hope he wins a second Heisman since he is the best
player in college football this year.

@rolltide – “Is that how you figure college football works? That players go to their coaches and tell them the offense they’d like to run that would give them the best NFL resume, not what gives the team the best odds of winning?”

============================

What are you – 12 years old?

Why would the coaching staff NOT want to run the most advanced offense their QB and offensive players were capable of?

Why would Manziel NOT be able to make a special request in order to return for another year?

Have you never worked in a real job? Do you still believe that all authority resides solely with the boss? That successful head coaches tune out all suggestions and requests from their best players?

I heard today someone on the radio handicapping college QBs odds of staying in. Bridgewater was 70/30 to go pro, Mariota was 50/50 and Manziel was 120/-20. I thought that was humorous.

He’s going, its obvious. Like @amosalonzostagg I’m reading that most NFL scouts have him as the 3rd QB taken behind Bridgewater and Mariota somewhere in the mid to late 1st rd.

With the style of game he plays in the SEC he’d be foolish to stick around to possibly be a top 5 pick. Lot of risk there and he’s been battling injuries all year as it is.

He’s got plenty of arm strength, he’s become very accurate, especially on long balls, and he extends plays. The biggest question on him is can he mature enough to lead an NFL franchise. While he’s been pretty irresponsible off the field, the kid is a natural leader on it. I really feel like he’d rather die than lose a game. He is such a gamer.

Since the autograph scandal, I haven’t heard a peep out of Johnny Football. Seems to me he’s matured quite a bit already.

People really like to run him down, though. What’s up with that?

thegeneral7694 says:Nov 23, 2013 12:10 AM

@apkyletexas:

I think rolltide’s point was that Sumlin probably doesn’t give two $hits about what will best prepare Manziel for the pros, as opposed to what will win games for A&M. They aren’t going to tell him not to ever leave the pocket, because a) it might get him killed, since he’s not a big guy at all, and b)it would be taking away an entire facet of his game, without which A&M would’ve lost at least one more game this year, and maybe more than that. I’m sure Sumlin is going to let him play the way he always has, because it’s worked. It’s not Sumlin’s job to get him ready for the pros…it’s his job to win games. I completely understand what you’re saying, though, and don’t entirely disagree….Manziel does have some Drew Brees in him, for sure.
This is all just an academic argument, though, because dude is G-O-N-E to the NFL….Sumlin knows that, though he won’t say it (as he shouldn’t).

dcroz says:Nov 23, 2013 8:26 AM

I think he’s good as gone myself. There are two things to consider when it comes to staying for another year, however:

1) Even without Manziel, this is going to be the most loaded draft for QBs in 30 years. With so many talented selections on the board, there is a chance that even Manziel could get lost in the shuffle and not be taken on the first day. Another season in College Station would let him mature both on and off the field and give him the opportunity to be THE QB of the 2015 Draft.

2) Two words: Tim Tebow. Johnny Football is essentially Tebow wearing horns instead of a halo, QBs whose playing style is incredible in college but questionable as to whether it will work in the NFL. And both stir fans’ passions, with a core of fanatical supporters who want to see them play regardless of whether their performance merits it and a ton of people who want to see them play just to enjoy watching them get planted head-first into the turf. The NFL has already experienced the circus around Tebow; many teams may very well be afraid of the same thing happening with Manziel and avoid him like the plague.

dhardy8207 says:Nov 23, 2013 9:54 AM

Jdillydawg says;

“Aside from the Lakers, I can’t think of any other 3 peaters out there. Anyone? Anyone?”

————————————————–

I realize we’re talking football here, but since you brought up the Lakers lets turn this into a “Jeopardy” question shall we… I’ll take “Who are the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordon for 100 Alex….

He is good as gone from College Station. No more parking problems on campus. He will have a Heisman in his trophy case and will be a finalist again for the award this season. The INTs in the redzone are a problem, but he brings a lot to table in athleticism and playmaking ability.

For Johnny he can finally make money off his own name with out the NCAA stepping in.

Manziel is not a Tim Tebow. He has upgraded his passing capabilities under George Whitfield for two years, improving impressively each year. He has learned to read defenses. Depending on which NFL team takes him, Manziel COULD have a NFL career. I say depending on which team take him, if Manziel goes to a New Orleans and is mentored by Drew Brees, he could be great. If he goes to Tampa Bay, Good luck!

“I realize we’re talking football here, but since you brought up the Lakers lets turn this into a “Jeopardy” question shall we… I’ll take “Who are the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordon for 100 Alex…. :-)”

Well played, my friend. Well played!

polishkingski says:Nov 23, 2013 11:48 PM

i don`t know….i have long since stopped believing you have to have six foot four, two thirty size to play on sundays and he sure does look small out there at times. but he seems very very accurate and only scrambles out of the pocket well after he has gone through a number of progressions. his stock will never be any higher. so i say enter the draft son. i wish the bills would take him if he comes out